General Information
I've attached a few pics of my 63 wagon. I'm new to the forum so bare with me if I ramble.
The 63 started out with unoriginal MACCO paint, a transplanted 383 rusty floors but a good highly optioned California Black Plate car. I'm 90% of the way through the mechanical restoration having installed a 440 motorhome engine I rebuilt with Hughes whiplash cam. Updated the Front and rear ac to r134. Everything mechanically works except the vacuum power door locks which is going to be a pain considering there's no kits to rebuild them as far as I can find. I had to disassemble all the power window motors and cobble together 6 units to get 4 to work. BTW, all 4power window transmissions are unique. Refurbished the instrument panel replacing the ammeter with a v. Meter. Also updated to a transistorized 5V voltage regulator for the gauges, they work perfectly. Refurbished the power seat motors, Had to completely refurbished the ratty wiring harness and upgraded to a modern 12 circuit fuse box, upgraded to 78A alternator, Mopar electronic ignition. While the motor was out I completely refurbished the HVAC system, replaced a few servos, bought a crimper and fabricated new custom ac lines.
I still have a few big upgrades I want to perform, I have a 46RH Overdrive Transmission from a late model Ram I plan on putting behind the BB with a JH bell housing adapter, along with a 3:91 sure trac, and I almost have all the parts for a disc brake conversion using all Mopar hardware.
My plan all along was to get it mechanically 100% before I tackled the body. I did however have to address the rotted floors in the front and third seat footwell in order to have a sound derivable vehicle.
I'm quickly getting to the point where I need to decide on paint. I love the matt black look, but I think its a little too trendy and will likely fade from popularity in the near future. Or I could go with the cranberry-ish factory color with or without a Pearle white top. The red and white paint will be more expensive but I think it's timeless and wont ever hurt he value of the car.
Thats where I am, let me hear some opinions.
The 63 started out with unoriginal MACCO paint, a transplanted 383 rusty floors but a good highly optioned California Black Plate car. I'm 90% of the way through the mechanical restoration having installed a 440 motorhome engine I rebuilt with Hughes whiplash cam. Updated the Front and rear ac to r134. Everything mechanically works except the vacuum power door locks which is going to be a pain considering there's no kits to rebuild them as far as I can find. I had to disassemble all the power window motors and cobble together 6 units to get 4 to work. BTW, all 4power window transmissions are unique. Refurbished the instrument panel replacing the ammeter with a v. Meter. Also updated to a transistorized 5V voltage regulator for the gauges, they work perfectly. Refurbished the power seat motors, Had to completely refurbished the ratty wiring harness and upgraded to a modern 12 circuit fuse box, upgraded to 78A alternator, Mopar electronic ignition. While the motor was out I completely refurbished the HVAC system, replaced a few servos, bought a crimper and fabricated new custom ac lines.
I still have a few big upgrades I want to perform, I have a 46RH Overdrive Transmission from a late model Ram I plan on putting behind the BB with a JH bell housing adapter, along with a 3:91 sure trac, and I almost have all the parts for a disc brake conversion using all Mopar hardware.
My plan all along was to get it mechanically 100% before I tackled the body. I did however have to address the rotted floors in the front and third seat footwell in order to have a sound derivable vehicle.
I'm quickly getting to the point where I need to decide on paint. I love the matt black look, but I think its a little too trendy and will likely fade from popularity in the near future. Or I could go with the cranberry-ish factory color with or without a Pearle white top. The red and white paint will be more expensive but I think it's timeless and wont ever hurt he value of the car.
Thats where I am, let me hear some opinions.
